earnestine jordan walker
1931-1997
Life Story
Biography
(August 17, 1931 – January 11, 1997)
Early Life and Family
Earnestine Jordan Walker was born on August 17, 1931, to Mack Jordan (1909–1977) and Lizzie Curry Jordan (1911– ?). She was a native of Newton County, Mississippi, maintaining lifelong ties to the area before relocating later in life.
Marriage and Family
Earnestine married Clardie Lewis Walker, with whom she built her family and adult life. She was widowed prior to her death.
The following children were named in her obituary:
Children
- Claudis Walker (Jackson, Mississippi)
- Jacquelyn Walker (Jackson, Mississippi)
- Earl D. Walker (Jackson, Mississippi)
- Maxell Walker (Jackson, Mississippi)
- John E. Walker (Jackson, Mississippi)
She was also survived by four grandchildren.
Siblings
- Sister: Mae Frances Washington (Jackson, Mississippi)
- Brothers: Mack Jordan and Willie E. Jordan
Employment and Adult Life
Earnestine Walker worked for 21 years as a hotel employee with United Inns, reflecting long-term, steady employment. By the time of her death, she had lived in Jackson, Mississippi, for approximately 30 years, establishing deep roots in the community.
Final Illness and Death
Earnestine Jordan Walker passed away on January 11, 1997, at the age of 65, at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, following an illness with cancer.
Funeral Services and Burial
Funeral services were held at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, with burial in the church cemetery. She is laid to rest at St. John M.B. Church Graveyard, a site that continues to serve as an important resting place for members of the extended Walker and Jordan families.
Source Context: Newspaper Obituary (1997)
The obituary published in January 1997 confirms Earnestine Walker’s birthplace, marital status, long employment history, residence in Jackson, named survivors, funeral location, and burial site. The notice emphasizes her working life, family connections, and church affiliation—elements consistent with the documented patterns of the Walker and Jordan families.
Historical Significance
Earnestine Jordan Walker’s life reflects the experience of many African American women of her generation: rooted in rural Mississippi, committed to long-term wage labor, devoted to family, and anchored in church life. Her decades of work in the hospitality industry and her role as a mother and grandmother form an essential part of the Walker family’s 20th-century history.
Resting Place
Saint John Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., Index to Public Records, 1994-2019
- Clarion-Ledger, Earnestine Walker Obituary, Wed, Jan 15, 1997 ·Page 13
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Leave a Reply